Civilization and Its Discontents

This is Sigmund Freud's seminal text where he explores what he sees as the fundamental tensions between civilization and the individual. He contends that the greatest friction is between the individual's quest for freedom and civilization's contrary demand for conformity. Thus humankind's primitive instincts to kill and sexual gratification are harmful to human society, so we create laws and severe punishments to prevent murder, rape, and adultery. Freud argues that this results in perpetual feelings of discontent in its citizens.